Lantern holder for boats



Nov. 14, 1961 J. M. POWELL LANTERN HOLDER FOR BOATS Filed Feb. 6, 1959 .INVENTOR Jack M. Powell ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,008,679 LANTERN HOLDER FOR BOATS Jack M. Powell, 110 W. Mitchell, Arlington, Tex. Filed Feb. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 791,639 2 Claims. (Cl. 248-226) This invention relates to a lantern bracket for boats,

and it concerns more particularly a bracket for gasoline lanterns for attachment to the gunwales of a boat, for use in fishing or the like.

The invention is applicable to small boats of the rowboat type, or those propelled by outboard motors, the sides or gunwales of which may deviate from the vertical plane. An object of the invention is to provide a bracket for such lanterns adapted to be attached to the gunwales of such boats and providing an outboard receptacle for the lantern adapted to support the same in substantiallly vertical position on either side of the boat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lantern bracket or holder as described having means for removably securing the same to a boat, comprising a first elongated clamping member rigidly connected at one end to the holder and normally extending across a gunwale of the boat, a second elongated clamping member adjustably secured to the first clamping member and engageable with the upper edge and the adjacent inner surface of the gunwale, and a brace adjustably connected to the holder below the clamping members and extending laterally inwardly therefrom for abutment against the adjacent side of the boat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lantern holder as described having an arcuate reflector plate conforming substantially to the peripheral surface of the lantern and extending upwardly above the clamping members, the reflector plate being enga-geable by the bail of the lantern to prevent its displacement from the holder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lantern holder as described which advantageously may be formed of sheet metal, is of simple, rugged construction, may

be manufactured inexpensively, and is efficient in operation and durable in use.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a lantern holder embodying the invention as applied to a boat, the boat being shown fragmentarily;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top plan view;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevationalview;

FIGURE 5 fragmentarily illustrates the adjustable clamping member engaging the inner surface of a boat shown fragmentarily in section, and

FIGURE 6 is another fragmentary illustration of the clamping member engaging the rail formed about the inner surface of a boat shown fragmentan'ly in section.

Referring to the drawing, a small boat of which the stern portion only is fragmentan'ly shown, is designated generally by the numeral 1. The boat 1 has a fiat bottom 2, a pair of gunwales 3, and a transom 4. The gunwales 3 are inclined upwardly and outwardly from the bottom 2, whereby they normally deviate from the vertical plane.

The invention has a frame consisting of a metal strip which is bent angularly intermediate its ends to form an elongated normally vertically disposed end portion 5, a normally horizontally disposed intermediate portion 6, and a relatively short, normally vertically disposed end portion 7.

A circular strip 8 is supported on the intermediate portion 6 of the frame, which is arranged diametrically below it, and is embraced by the vertically disposed end portions 5 and 7. The circular strip 8, together with the frame, provide a receptacle adapted to receive the base of a gasoline lantern 8', shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 3.

An elongated clamping member 9, which consists of a metal strip having a right angularly bent end portion 10, has the end portion 10 rigidly connected to the vertically disposed end portion 5 and normally extends horizontally across the gunwale 3 of the boat 1. A second elongated clamping member 11, which consists of a metal strip having angularly bent end portions for engagement with the upper edge and the adjacent inner surface of the gunwale 3 and is adjustably secured to the clamping member 9 by means of a threaded pin 12 which is attached to the clamping member 11 and extends through a longitudinal slot 13 in the clamping member 9 and has a wing nut 14 applied to its opposite end, whereby the clamping member 11 is adjustable longitudinally relative to the clamping member 9.

A brace 15, which consists of a metal strip, is arranged parallel to the horizontally disposed intermediate portion 6 of the frame and is adjustably secured thereto by means of a threaded pin 16 which is attached to the intermediate portion 6 and extends through a longitudinal slot 17 in the brace 15 and has a wing nut 18 applied to its opposite end, whereby the brace 15 is adjustable longitudinally relative to the intermediate portion 6. The brace 15 extends laterally inwardly from the vertically disposed end portion 5 of the frame, and is bent angularly adjacent its opposite end, as at 19, for abutment against the adjacent side of the boat 1 in a manner which will support the lantern in a vertical position, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 3.

An arcuate reflector plate 20, which conforms substantially to the peripheral surface of the lantern, is attached to the vertically disposed end portion 5 of the frame, above the clamping members 9 and 11. The reflector plate 20 is engageable by the bail of the lantern to prevent displacement of the lantern from the holder.

The invention may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A holder for a gasoline lantern comprising a frame consisting of an angularly bent sheet metal strip having a horizontally extending intermediate portion and vertically extending end portions extending upwardly from the intermediate portion, one of the end portions being relatively short, a circular sheet metal strip supported on the frame in juxtaposed relation to the intermediate portion, between the end portions, the intermediate portion being arranged diametrically relative to the circular strip, a first elongated clamping member consisting of a right angularly bent sheet metal st-rip having an end portion overlying the longer of the vertically extending end portions of the frame, above the circular strip, and having its opposite end portion extending horizontally outwardly therefrom, a second elongated clamping member consisting of an angularly bent sheet metal strip having a horizontally extending end portion slidably engaging the under side of the horizontally extending end portion of the first clamping member, and adjustable longitudinally relative thereto, and having depending portions inclined obliquely downwardly and outwardly, and then downwardly and inwardly, from the horizontally extending end portion thereof, a horizontally extending sheet metal strip slidably engaging the under side of the horizontally extending intermediate portion of the frame, and adjustable longitudinally relative thereto, extending outwardly beyond the frame and having an angularly bent, upwardly and inwardly inclined outer end portion, and an arcuate reflector plate attached to the longer of 3 the vertically extending end portions of the frame, above the clamping members.

The structure of claim 1, the holder providing an outboard receptacle adapted to support a lantern in substantially vertical position on one side of a boat having gunwales which may deviate from the vertical plane, the circular strip, together with the horizontally extending intermediate portion of the frame, forming a receptacle adapted to receive the base of a lantern, the horizontally extending end portions of the clamping members being adapted to extend across the upper edge of a gunwale and the depending portions of the second clamping member being engageable with the the inner surface of a gunwale below its upper edge, the outer end portion of the last mentioned strip being engageable with the outer surface of a gunwale below the clamping members, and the reflector plate being adapted to partially embrace the upper portion of a lantern received in the holder and being engageable by the bail thereof to prevent displacement of the lantern from the holder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 373,472 Moser etal Nov. 22, 1887 1,353,853 Sandberg Sept. 28, 1920 1,764,071 Foulke June 17, 1930 2,116,576 Hermann May 10, 1938 2,559,003 Brow July 3, 1951 2,598,130 Mallison May 27, 1952 2,656,454 Yacyshyn Oct. 20, 1953 2,673,057 Morris -Mar. 23, 1954 2,875,974 Albert Mar. 3, 1959 

